Specialist Sexual Defence Lawyers covering the whole of England and Wales with bases in Yorkshire, Manchester, London, Birmingham and Bristol

Sutton Defence Lawyers is a team of solicitors based in Yorkshire with offices in Manchester, London, Birmingham and Bristol specialising in sexual offences including child sex offences and historic sex offences, fraud and other serious crimes.

One of the country's top defence lawyers, Stuart Sutton, Director, has an outstanding record in successfully defending clients charged with sexual offences, having secured a high percentage of counts resulting in not guilty verdicts. 

You can now read answers to some of Stuart's most frequently asked questions here and read about some of Stuart's most notable case successes here and top testimonials here.

Stuart’s work ethic is focused on client care – putting their best interests at the centre and providing a service that goes above and beyond the call of duty. Stuart, together with his colleagues, can assist you at all stages, from an interview with the police through to the Crown Court trial process. Teaming up with the country’s most prolific counsel when the situation calls, you can rest assured your case is in the best hands. As well as serious crime, Stuart also represents clients before the GMC, HCPC, GOsC, GCC, NMC and those making representations to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). 

Stuart handles some of the most complex cases in the country including lengthy historic sex offence cases against institutions and individuals and large-scale serious fraud cases. He is well versed in defending high profile cases attracting widespread media coverage. The quality of Stuart’s defence has often been commented upon by judges and prosecutors alike, and his dedication is second to none. If you need a specialist sexual offence defence lawyer in the UK, contact Stuart Sutton on 07798 753720 or 07592 157957 today.

A question of consent

Consent is central in the majority of sexual offence & rape cases. For a defendant to be convicted, the jury must be convinced that the defendant did not reasonably believe that the complainant consented to the act in question. Demonstrating to the court that the defendant reasonably believed that consent was present is therefore a powerful defence against the allegation. 

The burden of proof in demonstrating reasonable belief lies with the defendant. Your defence team must be prepared to argue this point compellingly, as it may well be the lynchpin of your case. 

Read more about consent and reasonable belief to better understand its importance to your defence and why a skilled and leading defence lawyer, like Stuart, will pay such careful attention to this aspect of your case. 

Section 28 Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999: Its impact on defendants

Dramatic changes to how sex crimes are prosecuted in England and Wales may disadvantage defendants who do not instruct a defence solicitor at the earliest possible opportunity. By enabling complainants to put forward their cross-examination via video recording, Section 28 limits the time defendants have to put together a comprehensive defence and potentially the evidence they can rely on to do so.

To mitigate the threat Section 28 could pose to you receiving a fair trial, you must secure legal help as soon as you can. Moreover, your defence lawyer must be astutely aware of this law’s potential impact and know how to protect your case against it. 

Stuart has closely monitored developments around Section 28 and has developed a shrewd understanding of its possible consequences. You can read his full analysis to learn more about how Stuart is shielding his clients from its damaging effects.

Have you been accused of Sexual Misconduct?

If you are unfortunate enough to be facing allegations of sexual misconduct, you can read Stuart's articles - such as 'Legal Aid Or Not Legal Aid, That Is The Question' - for first-class and bespoke advice regarding sexual offence cases. We understand that being accused of a sexual offence can leave you feeling helpless and vulnerable with many unanswered questions regarding the court process and procedure. Do not delay and contact us today for specialist assistance and practical solutions. Please note that many of your concerns and queries can also be answered by reading our helpful Sexual Offences FAQs.

For immediate, expert legal advice, contact Stuart Sutton today on 07798 753720 or 07592 157957, email Stuart on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or complete our online contact form.

"The initial call to Stuart was the most valuable call I have every made, it literally gave me my life back. Please, please, please do what I did and contact Stuart, make the first step back to getting your life back too.” - Anon.  

Read more of our best client testimonials here.